U.S. patent application number 12/090582 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-27 for medical hand attachment.
This patent application is currently assigned to Geuder AG. Invention is credited to Volker Geuder.
Application Number | 20090216258 12/090582 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39244196 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090216258 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Geuder; Volker |
August 27, 2009 |
MEDICAL HAND ATTACHMENT
Abstract
A hand-held medical instrument, in particular a surgical cutting
instrument, preferably for use in ophthalmology, with a housing
that serves a grip, and with a tool holder that is provided in
particular for a knife and is arranged so as to be displaceable in
the housing via an actuation member, tool being able to be
displaced from a storage position in the housing to a working
position outside of the housing by actuation of the actuating
member, is characterized in that the housing has openings in the
housing wall, at least in the area of the tool located in the
storage position.
Inventors: |
Geuder; Volker; (Heidelberg,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MOORE & VAN ALLEN PLLC
P.O. BOX 13706
Research Triangle Park
NC
27709
US
|
Assignee: |
Geuder AG
Heidelberg
DE
|
Family ID: |
39244196 |
Appl. No.: |
12/090582 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
October 15, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DE2007/001809 |
371 Date: |
December 11, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
606/170 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2017/32113
20130101; A61B 2090/0813 20160201; A61F 9/0133 20130101; A61B
17/3211 20130101; A61B 90/70 20160201 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/170 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/32 20060101
A61B017/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 18, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 049 702.3 |
Claims
1-23. (canceled)
24. A hand-held medical instrument, namely a surgical cutting
instrument for use in ophthalmology, the instrument comprising: a
housing structured to serve as a grip; a knife; a tool holder, said
tool holder being structured to receive said knife; an actuating
member in operable communication with said tool holder and said
housing, wherein said tool holder is received within said housing
so as to be displaceable from said housing via said actuating
member, said knife being able to be displaced from a storage
position in said housing to a working position outside of said
housing by actuation of said actuating member, and wherein said
housing defines openings therein at least in the area of said knife
located in the storage position.
25. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 24, further
comprising said housing defining openings therein along the entire
length of said housing.
26. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 24, wherein said
housing defines a free end and a housing tip that tapers
continuously toward said free end, wherein said housing further
defines a cylindrical housing shaft, and wherein said housing tip
and said housing shaft define openings.
27. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 24, wherein said
housing defines the openings around the circumference of said
housing.
28. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 24, wherein said
openings are offset relative to one another in the axial direction
of said housing.
29. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 24, wherein said
openings are in alignment one behind another in the axial direction
of said housing.
30. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 24, wherein said
openings comprise a substantially round configuration.
31. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 24, wherein said
openings comprise an oval shape.
32. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 24, wherein said
openings are designed in such a way that said housing forms a
housing cage.
33. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 24, wherein said
housing defines a cylindrical passage, and wherein the instrument
further defines a plunger, said plunger being structured to carry
said tool holder within said cylindrical passage as said tool
holder is displaced within said housing.
34. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 33, wherein said
plunger tapers toward said tool holder via a step formation, and
wherein the instrument further comprises a compression spring
positioned in the area of the taper between said plunger and said
housing, said compression spring being biased against said tool
holder to thereby urge said knife into the working position.
35. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 34, wherein said
plunger is guided within said cylindrical passage of said housing,
and said tapered area of said plunger is guided within the
transition between said cylindrical passage of said housing and
said housing tip or in said housing tip.
36. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 33, wherein said
plunger defines an orthogonally protruding guide pin, said housing
defines a guide, and wherein said guide pin runs in said guide
formed in said housing.
37. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 36, wherein said
guide pin is screwed into said plunger.
38. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 36, wherein said
guide is configured as a slit in said housing.
39. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 38, wherein said
housing defines a rear catch in operable communication with said
slit to thereby prevent said knife inadvertently being pushed out
into the working position, and wherein said housing defines a front
catch structured to prevent said knife being inadvertently pushed
into the storage position.
40. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 39, wherein said
actuator member is structured to turn said plunger to thereby turn
said guide pin from a locked position to an unlocked position and
from an unlocked position to a locked position.
41. The hand-held instrument as claimed in one of claims 33,
wherein said actuating member is made thicker or widened relative
to said plunger, and wherein said actuating member defines opposite
flattened surfaces.
42. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 33, wherein the
tapered area of said plunger, said actuating member and said tool
holder are made in one piece.
43. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 24, wherein said
tool holder comprises a seat for said knife, into which seat said
knife is adhesively bonded.
44. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 24, wherein said
knife comprises a diamond blade.
45. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 33, wherein said
housing, said plunger, said actuating member and said tool holder
are made of stainless steel.
46. The hand-held instrument as claimed in claim 33, wherein said
housing, said plunger, said actuating member and said tool holder
are made of titanium or of a titanium alloy.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a hand-held medical instrument, in
particular a surgical cutting instrument, preferably for use in
ophthalmology, with a housing serving as a grip, and with a tool
holder that is provided in particular for a knife and is arranged
so as to be displaceable in the housing via an actuating member,
the tool being able to be displaced from a storage position in the
housing to a working position outside of the housing by actuation
of the actuating member.
[0002] Hand-held medical instruments are known in a wide variety of
designs from medical practice. An important aspect is that the
tool, generally held by a tool holder, can be moved from an outer
working position to a storage position inside the housing.
[0003] The hand-held instruments of the type in question that are
known from practice are problematic in terms of cleaning, since the
soiled tool is located in the storage position in the housing.
Inside the housing, however, the tool is only accessible to a
limited extent. If, for cleaning purposes, the tool were to be left
in the working position outside of the housing, there would be a
danger of damaging it or of injuring the person handling it. This
is especially so if the tool is a diamond blade adhesively bonded
into the tool holder. There is then not only a danger of damage,
but also a danger of loss of the expensive blade.
[0004] Hand-held instruments of the type in question here were
previously cleaned in ultrasound baths and then sterilized.
[0005] It has in the meantime been found that the cleaning can be
done much more easily in suitable washing machines. However, the
hand-held instruments of the type in question are not really
suitable for such cleaning, especially in light of the problems
outlined above. Particularly if an unprotected tool were to be
cleaned in a washing machine, there would be an increased danger of
damage or loss of the blade, with the result that the cleaning
method, although simple in itself, cannot really be implemented
satisfactorily in the washing machine.
[0006] As prior art, reference is made solely by way of example to
EP 0 870 472 A1.
[0007] The object of the present invention is therefore to design
and develop a hand-held medical instrument of the type in question,
in such a way that it is suitable for automatic cleaning in a
washing machine, without danger to the tool.
[0008] According to the invention, the above object is achieved by
a hand-held medical instrument having the features of patent claim
1. In accordance with the latter, the hand-held instrument in
question is characterized in that the housing has openings in the
housing wall, at least in the area of the tool located in the
storage position.
[0009] According to the invention, it has been recognized that
hand-held medical instruments of the type in question here are
suitable for cleaning in washing machines only if special design
measures are taken. Thus, the housing has openings in the housing
wall, at least in the area of the tool located in the storage
position, such that the spraying or cleaning jet in the washing
machine reaches the soiled tool. In other words, the cleaning of
the tool takes place in the storage position of the tool, the
openings in the housing wall allowing the cleaning jet to exert its
action. Since the openings in question are spatially limited
openings, the spraying jet, for example emanating from a rotating
spray arm, is broken up regularly, such that to this extent there
is a kind of neutralizing of the spraying jet, but without its
effect being annulled.
[0010] According to the invention, it has therefore been found that
the tool can be readily cleaned in its storage position, i.e.
inside the housing of the hand-held instrument, if the housing wall
is perforated or provided with openings. When the tool has been
driven in, i.e. with the tool located in the storage position, the
tool is sufficiently well protected and the danger of injury is
excluded. Thus, the housing satisfies its protective function, as
before, but permits cleaning of the tool from the outside.
Accordingly, the hand-held instrument according to the invention is
very particularly suitable for automatic cleaning, in particular in
a rinsing or washing machine specially provided for this
purpose.
[0011] It has already been stated above that the openings are to be
provided at least in the area of the tool located in the storage
position, to ensure that sufficiently good cleaning of the tool is
possible through the openings. To ensure complete cleaning of the
hand-held instrument, specifically from outside and from inside, it
is advantageous if the housing has openings in the housing wall
along its entire length. In this way, it is not just the tool, but
the entire mechanism within the hand-held instrument that can be
cleaned and then sterilized.
[0012] In concrete terms, the housing has a housing tip tapering
preferably continuously as far as the free end, and a preferably
cylindrical housing shaft. To this extent, the housing is similar
to the housing of a ballpoint pen. The openings can be arranged
both in the housing tip and also in the housing shaft. The storage
position of the tool is in such a case located in the housing tip,
such that the openings located there are of very particular
importance.
[0013] The openings are also advantageously formed all the way
round the housing, i.e. about the entire circumference of the
housing. It is also conceivable for the openings to be offset
relative to one another in the axial direction or to be aligned one
behind another.
[0014] As regards the geometrical design of the openings, it will
be noted at this point that they can have any desired shapes.
Particularly with a view to safe handling, and if at all possible
to avoid injuries in the area of the openings, the latter can be
made round or have rounded edge areas. A slit-like design,
preferably of oval shape, is advantageous in allowing relatively
large openings to be created, and, with a suitable number of such
openings, it is possible for the housing to be formed as a kind of
housing cage. The cage-like construction protects the interior, in
particular the tool, and also protects the user against injury. The
tool is sufficiently well secured in the storage position by the
housing cage. Automatic cleaning is possible, especially as the
spraying or cleaning jet, although broken up, passes into the
housing and as far as the tool and can exert a sufficiently good
cleaning action.
[0015] It is also advantageous if the housing, as far as the
housing tip, has a cylindrical passage in which a plunger carrying
the tool holder is displaceably arranged. The plunger could have a
continuously uniform design. Advantageously, the plunger tapers
toward the tool holder, preferably via a kind of step formation. In
the area of the taper, i.e. between the plunger and the housing, a
compression spring is advantageously arranged against whose force
the tool can be pushed into the working position. The compression
spring thus acts between the plunger and the housing, such that, in
order to extract the tool, it is necessary to overcome the
pretension defined by the compression spring. Here too, there is a
similarity to the actuation of a conventional ballpoint pen.
[0016] The plunger used to actuate the tool is guided in the
cylindrical area of the housing. The tapered area of the plunger,
which extends as far as the housing tip, is advantageously guided
in the transition between the cylindrical area of the housing and
the housing tip or in the housing tip itself. When actuated, the
tapered area of the plunger can be pushed out of the housing tip,
such that the tool is located in the exposed working position.
[0017] It is very particularly advantageous if the plunger is
assigned a preferably orthogonally protruding guide pin, which runs
in a guide formed in the housing. This guide is to be understood as
a notch or recess in the housing wall. The guide pin can be welded
onto the plunger or screwed into the plunger.
[0018] The guide provided for the guide pin is specifically
designed as a slit in the housing wall. To avoid inadvertent
actuation, in particular to avoid the tool inadvertently being
pushed out into the working position, the slit comprises a rear
catch, in the form of a niche forming an abutment. A front catch
can also be provided against the tool inadvertently being pushed or
driven back into the storage position, which front catch is
designed in a manner corresponding to the catch against inadvertent
pushing out of the tool, but with a reverse orientation.
[0019] By turning the plunger, preferably via the actuating member,
the guide pin can be turned, in a suitable axial position, out of
the locked position and into the locked position. This means that
an axial actuation is not sufficient to push the tool out and drive
it back in. For safety, an additional turning of the plunger via
the actuating member is needed, for which purpose it is expedient
to provide the actuating member with a roughened surface or the
like that ensures a firm grip.
[0020] As regards the design of the actuating member, it is also
advantageous if the latter is made thicker or widened relative to
the plunger, preferably to the size of the housing. Despite a
roughened surface or the like to facilitate handling, it is
conceivable for the actuating member to have flattened areas at
opposite ends. To turn the plunger, the actuating member can be
gripped at these areas such as to permit a locking or
unlocking.
[0021] It will further be noted that the plunger can be moved
counter to the force of the spring already mentioned above. On the
basis of this action of force, it is conceivable for the slits
serving as guides to be provided with beveled end surfaces, such
that the guide pin moves as it were automatically into the
respective locking position, such that an unlocking or turning of
the plunger via the actuating member is always necessary to allow
repeated actuation. This structural measure affords a considerable
degree of operating safety.
[0022] The plunger, the tapered area of the plunger, the actuating
member and the tool holder can be made in one piece. Multi-part
designs, for example also using different materials, are also
conceivable.
[0023] It is also important that the tool holder comprises a seat
for the tool, into which seat the tool is inserted, as always. In
the simplest case, the tool is plugged or adhesively bonded into
the seat, particularly if the tool is a miniaturized diamond
blade.
[0024] The housing, the plunger, the actuating member and the tool
holder can be made of different materials, it being advantageous
for the structural parts to be made of stainless steel and/or of
titanium or a titanium alloy. Sufficient flexural strength is
afforded by such materials, and these materials are also
particularly suitable for automatic cleaning in washing machines
using suitable cleaning agents, specifically because of the
material-specific resistance.
[0025] There are now various possible ways in which the teaching of
the present invention can be advantageously embodied and developed.
Reference is made, on the one hand, to the patent claims dependent
on patent claim 1 and, on the other hand, to the following
explanation of an illustrative embodiment of the invention based on
the drawing. In conjunction with the explanation of the preferred
illustrative embodiment of the invention based on the drawing,
generally preferred embodiments and developments of the teaching
are also explained. In the drawing:
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an illustrative embodiment
of a hand-held medical instrument according to the invention, the
instrument being a cutting instrument equipped with a diamond blade
and used in ophthalmology, and the tool being located in the
retracted storage position,
[0027] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the article from FIG. 1, in
cross section and rotated through 90.degree. about the longitudinal
axis relative to FIG. 1,
[0028] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the article from FIGS. 1
and 2, in the same position as in FIG. 1, the tool being located in
the exposed or extracted working position,
[0029] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the article from FIG. 3, in
cross section and rotated through 90.degree. about the longitudinal
axis relative to FIG. 3, and
[0030] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of an area of the hand-held
medical instrument from FIGS. 1 to 4, namely with a guide pin of
the plunger located in the guide formed in the housing, together
with a catch.
[0031] An illustrative embodiment of a hand-held medical instrument
according to the invention is shown in a schematic view in FIG. 1,
specifically a cutting instrument for ophthalmology. The cutting
instrument comprises a housing 1 serving as a grip, and a tool
holder 3 that can be displaced in the housing 1 via an actuating
member 2. A diamond is used as the tool 4. The tool 4 can be
displaced from a storage position in the housing 1, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, to a working position outside of the housing 1, as
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, by actuation of the actuating member 2.
[0032] According to the invention, the housing 1 has openings 5 in
the housing wall 6, at least in the area of the tool 4 located in
the storage position.
[0033] FIGS. 1 to 4 together show that the openings 5 are formed
along the entire length of the housing 1. The figures also show
that the housing 1 has a housing tip 7 that tapers continuously
toward the free end, and a cylindrical housing shaft 8. The
openings 5 are formed both in the housing tip 7 and also in the
housing shaft 8.
[0034] The openings 5 are formed about the entire circumference of
the housing 1, specifically aligned one behind another in the axial
direction. In addition, the openings 5 have an oval shape with
rounded edge areas. The openings 5 are formed close to one another
such that the housing wall 6 is presented as a housing cage.
[0035] FIGS. 2 and 4 show particularly clearly that the housing 1
has a cylindrical passage 9 extending as far as the housing tip 7.
A plunger 10 carrying the tool holder 3 is arranged displaceably
inside the passage 9. It is also important that the plunger 10
tapers toward the tool holder 3. In the area of the taper, i.e. in
the front area, namely between the plunger 10 and the housing 1, a
compression spring 11 is arranged against whose force the tool 4
can be brought into the working position.
[0036] The plunger 10 is guided in the cylindrical area of the
housing 1, i.e. in the housing shaft 8, and the tapered area of the
plunger 10 is guided in the transition between the cylindrical area
of the housing 1 and the housing tip 7, such that the plunger 10 is
provided overall with optimal guiding, i.e. secure against
tilting.
[0037] FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 show clearly that the plunger 10 is
assigned an orthogonally protruding guide pin 12, which runs in a
guide 13 formed in the housing 1. The guide pin 12 is screwed into
the plunger 10.
[0038] The guide 13 is designed as a slit in the housing wall
6.
[0039] FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 also clearly show that the guide 13 or slit
has a rear catch 14 against the tool 4 inadvertently being pushed
out into the working position. Moreover, a front catch 15 is
provided against the tool 4 inadvertently being pushed into the
storage position. Both catches 14, 15 are designed in such a way
that, by turning the plunger 10, namely via the actuating member 2,
the guide pin 12 can be turned, in a suitable axial position, out
of the locked position, namely out of the rear catch 14, and, after
the tool has been pushed out by axial actuation of the actuating
member 2, into a locked position, namely into the front catch 15,
and can be locked or anchored there. The respective release from
the catches 14, 15 accordingly takes place in reverse.
[0040] As regards other features that cannot be discerned from the
figures, reference is made to the general part of the description,
in order to avoid repetition.
[0041] Finally, it will be noted that the illustrative embodiment
discussed above serves simply as an example to explain the
hand-held instrument according to the invention, and said
instrument is not limited to the illustrative embodiment.
* * * * *